The second floor of Yoichi's pharmacy was lined with Onmyōji symbols, both on the walls and the floor. These symbols, crafted with precision, served various purposes—sound isolation, energy containment, and more. If Yoichi put in the effort, this place could even rival the Pure Land.
When Ino arrived, she found Yoichi activating the symbols on the floor. The glowing runes, reminiscent of advanced sealing techniques, piqued her curiosity.
"Is this Onmyōdō?" she asked, her eyes fixed on the intricate designs.
Yoichi nodded, his expression serious. "Yes. Once I activate the ritual and connect to the Pure Land, I'll locate the person you wish to see. We're only one step away."
"What's left?" Ino asked eagerly.
"A kiss from you, of course," Yoichi teased with a sly grin.
"You—!"
Her face flushed crimson as she clenched her fists. But seeing Yoichi's unwavering determination, Ino sighed and leaned in to give him a quick kiss.
Minutes later, her cheeks still red, she glared at him. "Is that enough, you troublemaker?"
Somehow, her moral boundaries were slipping further away whenever she was alone with Yoichi. At this moment, she didn't even think about Sai or her role as his wife.
"Perfect. Did you bring the item that belonged to the deceased?"
"Yes, it's my father's old ninja uniform. It's been untouched in the closet for years. Will that work?"
"It's ideal. Please wait while I prepare the ritual," Yoichi replied, taking the uniform from her.
Performing this summoning wasn't difficult for him. In fact, it was a convenient opportunity to scout for powerful spirits in the Pure Land—perhaps even three Kage-level souls to strengthen his grasp over the domain. Allowing Hagoromo to monopolize the Pure Land's energy was far from ideal.
The room dimmed as Yoichi activated the Onmyōdō symbols. The runes on the floor began to glow, and with the ninja uniform as a medium, Yoichi swiftly located Yamanaka Inoichi in the Pure Land.
In the center of the ritual, a faint figure began to materialize. As the features sharpened into a recognizable face, Yoichi lowered his hands and turned to Ino.
"It's done. Your father's spirit is now connected. You have thirty minutes," he said.
Inside the ritual, Inoichi looked around in confusion until his eyes fell on Ino. His expression softened with surprise and joy.
"Ino? Is that really you?"
"I'll leave you two to talk," Yoichi said, stepping out of the room and closing the door behind him.
Outside, Yoichi opened his ability interface. The countdown showed less than 24 hours before the world would face the first disaster. Excitement flickered in his eyes. He was eager to see what treasures this ability would bring him.
When Ino finally emerged from the room, her eyes were red and puffy, but a look of gratitude shone on her face. She bowed deeply to Yoichi.
"Thank you for letting me see my father again."
"It was no trouble at all," Yoichi said, helping her stand. "If you ever wish to see him again, just come to me. I'm sure your father would love to meet his grandson someday."
"Y-Yes. Thank you…" Ino stammered, embarrassed but touched by the thought.
Yoichi shrugged with a mischievous grin. "What can I say? I like you, Ino-san."
"You—! Stop saying such things," she huffed, her face red. Though embarrassed, a part of her enjoyed his sweet words.
Turning her head shyly, she whispered, "Don't say things like that in public…"
Yoichi took advantage of the moment to pull her into an embrace. "Then you'll visit me every two days?"
"Absolutely not!" Ino exclaimed, shaking her head. "That's too often. People would notice."
"Fine, how about every three days?"
"Three days is still too frequent!"
After some negotiation, they settled on Ino visiting once a week. Though she agreed, her face turned as red as an apple at the thought of what these visits would entail. Yoichi couldn't resist planting a kiss on her cheek, finding her reaction endearing.
"Ino-san," Yoichi said suddenly, "would you like me to extend this offer to others? I can help them meet their departed loved ones too."
"If it's for my friends, then yes," she said, though her voice faltered when she realized Yoichi meant Shikamaru.
"Not that pineapple-headed guy," Yoichi said bluntly, referring to Shikamaru. "Anyone else is fine."
Ino wanted to defend her friend but was silenced by another kiss. Breathless, she glared at Yoichi. "You're impossible. What do you think about all day?"
After chatting briefly, Ino finally left the pharmacy.
As soon as she stepped outside, she ran into Sakura. Seeing Sakura's suspicious look, Ino tensed.
"Were you buying medicine? It looked like you came from the second floor," Sakura remarked.
"N-No, not really. I was here for something else," Ino stammered, quickly thinking of an excuse. "Actually, I was about to head to Kurenai-sensei's house. Want to come along? I'll explain on the way."
Without waiting for a response, Ino adjusted her clothes and made sure her lips weren't swollen before grabbing Sakura's arm and heading toward Kurenai's house.
At Kurenai's home, Ino recounted her experience. Both Kurenai and Sakura were shocked but trusted her words, knowing Ino wouldn't lie about such a thing.
"Meeting the dead…" Kurenai murmured, her heart stirred by the idea. It had been over a decade since Asuma's death, but hearing this brought back emotions she thought she had buried.
Sakura, on the other hand, considered her husband, Sasuke. She knew he carried the weight of his clan's past and might appreciate the chance to speak with his family.
"If this is true," Sakura asked, "did he ask for anything in return? He seems like the type to charge a lot."
He already did… Ino thought but only said, "No, you've misunderstood him. He's actually quite reasonable once you get to know him."
Sakura raised an eyebrow but let the matter drop for now. "If it's possible, I'd like to talk to Sasuke about it. He might want to see his family."
Kurenai nodded. "Ino, if you could, please ask him on my behalf."
"I'll bring it up tomorrow or the day after," Ino promised, deciding to delay slightly to avoid suspicion.
That night, just seconds before midnight, a colossal mirage appeared over the vast ocean. Towering monsters, thousands of meters tall, loomed within the shimmering vision, dwarfing even the tallest mountains of the shinobi world.
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
With a thunderous crack, the mirage shifted into reality.
"Run! Start the ship, or we're all dead!"
"Captain, the sky just went dark!"
"Who cares about the sky? Those sea kings are right behind us! Move!"
A scar-faced captain clutched a locked chest, his legs trembling with fear. What had started as a routine heist turned into a nightmare as they encountered an ancient sea king—its size beyond comprehension.
Suddenly, a crewmate shouted, "The navigator's passed out!"
"Damn it—"
Before he could finish, a massive tidal wave, hundreds of meters high, rose before them.
Boom!
With a single motion, the colossal creature stirred, its movements unleashing waves that capsized the ship instantly.
(End of Chapter)
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